Aerogel materials, aerogel composites, and the like may be improved by the addition of opacifiers to reduce the radiative component of heat transfer. Such aerogel materials, aerogel composites, and the like may also be treated to impart or improve hydrophobicity. Such aerogel materials and methods of manufacturing the same are described.

A method of synthesizing aerogels and cross-linked aerogels in a single step and in a single pot without requiring any solvent exchange is described. Porous matrices are synthesized through a modification of hydrolysis condensation of alkoxides in which addition of water is minimized. The reaction occurs in an ethanol-water azeotrope mixture; the water in the azeotrope slowly hydrolyzes the alkoxide. Additionally, after gelation, the porous matrix is dried in supercritical ethanol rather than liquid CO.sub.2, which allows for elimination of solvent exchange steps. These modifications allow for the preparation of aerogel monoliths in any size in one step and in one pot and much faster than conventional procedures. In addition, the method provides for custom aerogel parts with large dimensions, as well as high volume fabrication of aerogels. The custom aerogel parts may be used in a variety of thermal insulation applications.

Thermally treated aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides in an amount less than the aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides prior to thermal treatment, and articles of manufacture that include or are manufactured from the aerogel compositions are described.

Provided is a supercritical drying method of a silica wet gel blanket and a method for producing a silica aerogel blanket including the same, the supercritical drying method preventing a salt from being accumulated inside equipment during supercritical drying. By preventing a salt from being accumulated inside equipment during supercritical drying, it is possible to improve the operational stability of the supercritical drying process. In addition, since only a line filter needs to be separated and is easily washed, the time required for washing and the total amount of ammonia wastewater generated therefrom can be reduced, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Provided is a method for manufacturing an aerogel blanket having improved processability by reducing manufacturing time and cost, the method including the steps of mixing a precursor material, an acid catalyst and a hydrous alcohol to prepare a sol, depositing a substrate in the sol, and reacting with a gaseous silazane-based compound to form a gel and to perform aging and surface modification reaction simultaneously to form a wet gel blanket, and drying the wet gel blanket to manufacture an aerogel blanket.

A method for manufacturing an aerogel blanket, the method capable of simplifying manufacturing equipment by performing gelation while rotating a reaction vessel, improving manufacturing efficiency by controlling manufacturing time regardless of the thickness of an aerogel blanket and improving thermal conductivity by uniformly forming an aerogel in a substrate for blanket.

Components and systems to manage thermal runaway issues in electric vehicle batteries are provided. Exemplary embodiments include a heat control member. The heat control member can include reinforced aerogel compositions that are durable and easy to handle, have favorable performance for use as heat control members and thermal barriers for batteries, have favorable insulation properties, and have favorable reaction to fire, combustion and flame-resistance properties. Also provided are methods of preparing or manufacturing such reinforced aerogel compositions. In certain embodiments, the composition has a silica-based aerogel framework reinforced with a fiber and including one or more opacifying additives.

The present invention provides a silica aerogel powder, a preparation method and an application thereof, and belongs to the field of preparation of insulating materials. The silica aerogel powder provided by the present invention is prepared from the following components: 100 to 300 parts by weight of aqueous solution of silica source, 200 to 400 parts by weight of oil phase solvent, 4 to 40 parts by weight of cosolvent, 0.2 to 2 parts by weight of surfactant, 10 to 60 parts by weight of sodium methylsiliconate solution, 1 to 5 parts by weight of aqueous inorganic acid solution, 3 to 10 parts by weight of sodium trimethylsilanolate solution in tetrahydrofuran (THF), and 0.3 to 0.9 part by weight of organic fatty acid in petroleum ether. The silica aerogel powder provided by the present invention is structurally uniform and features good hydrophobicity, low thermal conductivity, and low density.

Aerogel-based components and systems for electric vehicle thermal management are provided. Exemplary embodiments include a heat control member. The heat control member can include reinforced aerogel compositions that are durable and easy to handle, have favorable performance for use as heat control members and thermal barriers for batteries, have favorable insulation properties, and have favorable reaction to fire, combustion and flame-resistance properties. Also provided are methods of preparing or manufacturing such reinforced aerogel compositions. In certain embodiments, the composition has a silica-based aerogel framework reinforced with a fiber and including one or more opacifying additives.

A silica aerogel having a mean pore size less than 5 nm with a standard deviation of 3 nm. The silica aerogel may have greater than 95% solar-weighted transmittance at a thickness of 8 mm for wavelengths in the range of 250 nm to 2500 nm, and a 400° C. black-body weighted specific extinction coefficient of greater than 8 m.sup.2/kg for wavelengths of 1.5 μm to 15 μm. Silica aerogel synthesis methods are described. A solar thermal aerogel receiver (STAR) may include an opaque frame defining an opening, an aerogel layer disposed in the opaque frame, with at least a portion of the aerogel layer being proximate the opening, and a heat transfer fluid pipe in thermal contact with and proximate the aerogel layer. A concentrating solar energy system may include a STAR and at least one reflector to direct sunlight to an opening in the STAR.